Foresight Nanotechnology Challenges

Foresight has articulated six critical challenges that humanity faces which can be addressed by nanotechnology. In the Weekly News Digest we identify news items, research breakthroughs, and events citing current research and applications providing the stepping-stones to solutions to these challenges.

1. Meeting global energy needs with clean solutions

Researchers at the University of Missouri-Columbia have developed a more efficient source of energy involving nano-scale particles that take only microseconds to create and can be developed on a surface as small as a microchip.

The nano-engineered energetic material generates a tremendous amount of thermal and mechanical energy when ignited.

Researchers at The University of South Australia (UniSA) are developing a unique treatment for wastewater that guarantees improved water quality over existing treatments without relying on expensive chemicals.

The new solar nano-photocatalytic wastewater treatment process can replace a chlorination disinfection step as a tertiary treatment process to disinfect the micro-organisms and at the same time remove the organic compounds, making the wastewater suitable as a water resource.

3. Increasing the health and longevity of human life

Foresight note: Nanotechnology is only a partial solution to many challenges facing humanity. This article details how low tech and high tech as a combo can change our world for the better.

Headline: An end to lung cancer by 2015? With two high-profile cases in public eye, National Cancer Institute commits to employing nanotechnology and simple antismoking effort
News source: Newsday.com

The National Cancer Institute has announced an ambitious plan to end lung cancer's "suffering and death" by 2015, employing high-tech treatment technology and low-tech common sense to discourage people from smoking.

"NCI is heavily invested in nanotechnology," said Dr. Mark Clanton, deputy director of the National Cancer Institute, "Nanomedicine is about engineering particles or substances or devices on the order 100,000 times smaller than [the diameter of a] human hair."

Currently being developed by the IST project OPTONANOGEN, a prototype of the system will initially be used to detect mutations of the BRCA1 gene that are responsible for between 2.5 and 5 per cent of the incidence of breast cancer in women. The final system, however, could be used to detect virtually any genetic anomaly as well as proteins linked to viruses, chemical contamination in food or water pollution.

Engineers at Purdue University have created a nanotech simulation tool that shows how current flows between silicon atoms and individual molecules to help researchers design "molecular electronic" devices for future computers and advanced sensors.

"I believe we might be one of the first theorists who have created a tool to show how electricity is conducted between molecules and silicon at the atomic level," said Avik Ghosh, a research scientist in electrical and computer engineering who worked on the project with Geng-Chiau Liang, a postdoctoral research assistant in Purdue's School of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

6. Enabling the development of space

Foresight note: We welcome Scott Hubbard, Director, NASA Ames Research Center as a speaker at the Advancing Beneficial Nanotechnology Conference, on October 25, 2005 at 5:15 p.m., to be followed by a panel and reception.http://www.foresight.org/conference2005/program.html

This conference gets more compelling by the day. We have added several speakers to discuss key advances, funding and applications – and we have assembled debates to thrash out the more controversial issues in this next Industrial Revolution.

Our program is making this conference a "can't miss" for those who are tracking nanotechnology applications, policy issues and research.

Here is a small sampling of the debates and talk topics on the program:

Foresight Participating Members Discounts

Foresight Nanotech Institute's Participating Members receive deep discounts to the Advancing Beneficial Nanotechnology conference. What you save in registration practically pays for the membership.

If you are attending 3-1/2 days of the conference and register by September 1, 2005, the registration fee is $695. If you become a Participating Member your price is $495, and you receive additional membership benefits, including the opportunity to attend the invitation-only Vision Weekend.

Spotlight On Foresight Members — SEMI

Foresight Nanotech Institute has updated its membership levels and added new benefits. One of the levels is the corporate membership. This week’s spotlight is on Foresight corporate member SEMI.

SEMI® is the leading global association for equipment, materials and services companies enabling micro- and nano-scale manufacturing and is dedicated to helping its members explore new business opportunities in nanotechnology. SEMI serves it members through advocacy efforts, information products, standards development and world-class trade expositions and events.

"Artificial Intelligence (AI) broadly defined, improves the intelligence and autonomy of our technology. Intelligence amplification (IA) empowers human beings and their social, political, and economic environments. As in previous years, a collection of today's most broad-minded, multidisciplinary, and practical change leaders will consider these twin trends from global, national, business, social, and personal foresight perspectives."

Foresight members are eligible for a $75 discount off the registration fee. Simply follow this link and use the following discount code: AC2005-FORESIGHT when registering.http://www.accelerating.org/ac2005/

Nanotech Events & News

Article: Nanotechnology in China is focusing on innovations and new products
News Source: Physorg.com

Beijing has just released a new study about nanotechnology developments in China from 2005 to 2010 and 2015. China is now one of the world leaders in terms of its number of newly registered nanotechnology firms, nanotechnology publications and nanotech related patents.

Nanorex, a molecular engineering software company, named Dr. K. Eric Drexler as the company's Chief Technical Advisor. Dr. Drexler will play a leading role in shaping Nanorex's product strategy and advancing the company's academic outreach programs.

September 23-25, 2005 - Taiwan NanoTech 2005
Taipei World Trade Center
Sponsored by National Science and Technology Program for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Office
Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA)http://www.taipeitradeshows.com.tw/Nano/

About The Foresight Nanotech Institute Weekly News Digest

The Foresight Nanotech Institute Weekly News Digest is emailed every week to 15,000 individuals in more than 125 countries. Foresight Nanotech Institute is a member-supported organization. We offer membership levels appropriate to meet the needs and interests of individuals and companies. To find out more about membership follow this link:http://www.foresight.org/members/index.html

Judy Conner, Director of Communications at Foresight Nanotech Institute, is the editor of the Foresight Nanotech Institute Weekly News Digest. If you would like to submit a news item or contact her with comments about the news digest, please send an email to: editor@foresight.org.

Foresight Nanotech Institute is located in Menlo Labs in the Menlo Business Park, in Menlo Park, California. Our space is a generous donation from Tarlton Properties. If you are seeking space for your nanotechnology or biotechnology company, please contact them at http://www.tarlton.com.